Reynolds: The real reason for the DCF tragedies

Wednesday

Apr 16, 2014 at 11:22 PMApr 16, 2014 at 11:22 PM

Senator Ross recently wrote that many of his constituents had contacted him in regards to the Mass. Department of Children and Families (DCF). His article ("Getting to the root of DCF tragedies," April 10) criticizing the DCF for a lack of oversight had my many friends, colleagues and acquaintances that work in the Social Services field contacting me as well.He referred to the department as scandal-plagued. I believe that terminology is misleading. In reality the DCF is underfunded and understaffed. Not a one of us could cope or maintain perfect performance under these conditions. Many of the staff are overworked and underpaid. Massachusetts prides itself in supporting the elderly, poor and sick, yet, we are woefully inadequate in doing just that.I believe we can all agree it was devastating to hear of the recent tragedies that took place in the commonwealth, but Senator Ross, Massachusetts has ignored the call to increase funding and/or personnel to levels that would satisfy the ever-growing pressures placed on DCF. The demand for more and better-paid social workers is not a new refrain.Coalitions across the state are fighting to increase the minimum wage and give Massachusetts’ employees better working conditions, while in our own ‘employee backyard’ we are failing the DCF workforce and the families they are charged with protecting. Too many needs, not enough social workers, not enough hours in the day and frankly, for the work they do, the pay is abysmal.A report by Auditor Suzanne Bump did find that DCF has not ensured children were receiving the proper medical screenings and examinations while in custody, and that DCF has maintained inadequate records of background checks performed on individuals living in foster homes, and that DCF has not been verifying the proximity of level 2 and 3 sex offenders before finalizing foster care placement.This report is true and it is deplorable, but the failures of the DCF are not the fault of the overworked and underpaid staff. It is, Senator Ross, the direct result of the commonwealth not adequately funding the very budgets of the department you are now assailing. It is insufficient funding that undermines the growth and progress of the Commonwealth’s family services.Sen. Ross suggests that a change in DCF leadership is needed. I believe the Children's Welfare League of America will shed more light on this issue after their review. However, I would propose that a change in leadership will not eliminate the current DCF challenges - correcting a deficient operating budget would help turn the tide.Rather than attack the DCF and those that are working in the most minimal conditions of support, job training and pay – it would be best if Senator Ross focused his efforts to correcting this fiscal error.This is not about your requests for oversight and transparency, Senator Ross, or opportunities for the department or agency at issue to evaluate and report on its fiscal and operational status. It is not about you requesting that reports filed by state departments, agencies, committees and commissions be made available online to the public. It is not about your request to supplement precautions to prevent negligence, carelessness, or abuse. It is not about improving basic safeguards, medical examinations or background checks, or incomplete records. It is not about making immediate changes in management at DCF.It is and always has been about a lack of funding for this department and the tremendous caseload it carries. Every social worker, every staff member, every constituent and voter would like to see the records and oversight process in place and working at DCF. Enlighten us Senator, who in this greatly understaffed, underfunded and technologically outdated system is supposed to do it and how?It is about the state budget, Senator Ross, and the steps that should have been taken during your time in office to sustain the DCF so it could function properly. It’s about supporting the DCF with the dollars and employees a department of this size needs to properly address and manage ALL the precautions and protocols imposed on it.By ignoring the very needs of this department, Massachusetts has placed the many children across the commonwealth last, putting them in danger. The steps this commonwealth needs to take to ensure that similar tragedies do not occur would be to allot the dollars needed so that DCF can effectively run the very department you are so cavalierly attacking.SARA-LYNN REYNOLDSAttleboroThe writer is a Democratic candidate for state Senate from the Norfolk-Bristol-Middlesex District.

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